He has talked at the Smithsonian Institution, Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello and the Library of Congress.

Sponsored by the Tryon Palace African-American Lecture Series, both of Twitty’s programs are free and will be held inside the North Carolina History Center. The first event, held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, will be a lecture titled “Southern Discomfort: A Tour Through Early African-American Foodways.”

The second, held from 10 a.m. until noon on Friday, invites a younger audience to experience “Cooking Camp for Kids: Defeating Diabetes One Meal at a Time.”

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The New Bern Computer User Group’s quarterly meeting is Saturday at the Family Life Center located behind St. Paul Catholic Church on Country Club Road.

The doors open at 8 a.m. and the meeting begins an hour later. Admission is $3 for non-members.

Member Jim Cason will present a program on “Monitoring Security Cameras” installed on a home network.

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The Red Cross will host a Summer Blood Driveat The Emerald Golf Club in the Greenbrier community on Wednesday from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m.

The need for blood is critical this summer, with all blood types — especially O, A and B negative, which are in very short supply — needed.

Donors from the age of 16 — with parental consent — and who weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health are eligible to give.

For directions, more information or to schedule a specific appointment time, go online to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

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The Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association’s monthly program meeting is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the BridgePointe Hotel. The featured speaker will be Deborah Dewart, the author of the book “Death of a Christian Nation.

She is a lawyer and has written briefs for the Supreme Court. Her topic will be “The Role of the Church in Politics.”

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“Damn Yankees” will make its New Bern debut on RiverTowne Players’ stage at the historic Masonic Theatre on Thursday.

It is based on the novel “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant” by Douglass Wallop.

To add to the baseball park atmosphere, RiverTowne has scheduled tailgate parties in the Masonic Theatre parking lot for opening night and for the two matinees on Sunday and July 28. Fran’s Family Hot Dogs will be serving up traditional baseball fare: nachos and cheese, hot dogs, sausage dogs, chips and drinks. The audience can bring lawn chairs and get in the spirit for a show about America’s favorite pastime.

Shows are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, along with July 25, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. and matinees on Sunday and July 28 at 3 p.m. RiverTowne’s performance venue is the historic Masonic Theatre at 514 Hancock St.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door and $10 for students with valid school ID. Tickets are at the Council of the Arts’ temporary location, 308 George St., New Bern. Call 638-2577.

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A “Horticultural Workshop” program by the Craven County Cooperative Extension is planned for Saturday.

It is at the Craven County Agriculture Building at 300 Industrial Drive, which is off the Clarks exit on U.S. 70 West.

The 10 a.m. to noon program is facilitated by the Craven County Extension Master Gardener volunteers.

It is titled “Garden Tool Safety,” plus “Snakes In Eastern North Carolina — Venomous or Not”.

The presenters include Russell Sehulster of Carolina Tools and Tim Wilson, a Wildlife Specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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“Romeo to Go,” a work by New Bern Civic Theatre’s youth troupe — the Saax Bradbury Players — continues this week.

There will be performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday matinee.

Tickets are $14 in advance, $16 at the door and $10 for students and active duty military with ID.

The local show is directed by Georgie Blackerby and produced by Chelsey McCotter.

Call 633-0567 for ticket information or order on the web: newberncivictheatre.org

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Michael J. Humphries’ “Tribute to Elvis” show is Saturday night at the Christ Church Ministry Center on Middle Street in New Bern.